The tradition of Christmas carols can be traced back to ancient times, when people would sing songs of celebration during the winter solstice. The earliest known Christmas carol is believed to be "Angelus ad Virginem," which dates back to the 13th century in Europe. It was originally a Latin hymn sung on Christmas Eve, and was later translated into various languages. The tradition of singing carols spread throughout Europe and eventually made its way to America, where it has been a popular Christmas tradition ever since.